However, it has been reported that an emotional Zuma has been given until the end of today after refusing to do so.

Should he fail to resign, a motion of no confidence by his own party in Parliament would spell the end of his reign, something Ramaphosa has tried to avoid.

According to reports, Ramaphosa, the president-in-waiting, was widely praised by the NEC for the way in which he has handled the matter.

“We will see what comrade Zuma’s response is, but it’s obvious that we want [ANC president] comrade Ramaphosa to take over as the president of the country,” Magushule said in sticking to the party line.

Pressure mounted on the beleaguered Zuma to step down. South Africans have lambasted the protracted ''transition talks'' that started last week, demanding an end to the impasse.

The ANC leadership came under heavy criticism from commentators and social media users accusing the governing party of being ''too soft'' on Zuma by not firing him instantly and ending the political stalemate.

This saw opposition parties demand that a February 22 motion of no confidence debate be moved forward to this week.

The parties also demanded that Parliament be dissolved and early elections held to ''seek a new mandate'' from South Africans.